Pacific County officials seek new road around Upper Naselle Road slide

Pacific County commissioners visited Wahkiakum County commissioners last Thursday to talk about an alternative route for homeowners affected by slides on the Upper Naselle Road.

"This is about money to a degree, but it's also about someone getting killed," Pacific County Commissioner Lisa Ayers said. "That's the biggest priority here. We could probably fix what's there, but there is no guarantee. Are we going to pour $4 million into the area and then just go down the road every two or three years and have to replace more? I think we just need to cut this off and go a different direction because I don't want anyone killed."

According to Pacific County Engineer Mike Collins, Pacific County is considering taking over the Deep River Mainline as a county maintained road. Unfortunately, 1.1 miles of that particular road winds through Wahkiakum County and complicates the matter.

"If this was all in Pacific County," Collins said, "that would be pretty straightforward. We could intervene and work with the timber companies to try to do something. We decided to request a meeting with you guys to see if you've got any suggestions or if we can work something out."

According to Collins the mainline ranges over the property of four different timber companies, which maintain the road.

"Initially they were fine with the temporary detour," he said. "As for a permanent one, they are not in favor of it because they would like to be able to close off access.

At this point, the timber companies have extended access through 2017.

"We're supportive of helping you find a solution," Commissioner Blair Brady said. "Concerns are cost, liability and maintenance issues. I don't know if we can afford to build a mile and a half of road."

They talked about making the mainline a county road, or giving Pacific County a long term lease.

"Talk of a long term lease of a private road instead of creating a public roadway for your citizens to go in and out felt like biting into a lemon," Wahkiakum County Counsel Dan Bigelow said. "But leaving this thing as a private road and letting the public drive up and down it, I think that you are going to find more liability going down that route than figuring out how to make this a county road."

"I would think that the timber companies are not going to want to make it public access without liability being covered by us," Ayers said. "The temporary agreement has us with full liability."

Commissioner Dan Cothren suggested that both counties set up a meeting with the timber companies to discuss options.

"I think you'll get far more information with them sitting at the table," Cothren said. "We're basically just speculating."

All agreed. Meanwhile, Pacific County will speak with their attorneys and continue to consider alternatives.

"At least we know you're willing to work with us," Ayers said.